Improvement in machines for removing snow and ice from roadways



I C. G. ,WAT EBBUBY.' Machines for Removing Snow and In from Roadways.

Patented Dec. 23,1873.

UNITED STATES PATENT CHARLES Gr. XVATERBURY, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

IMPROVEMENT IN MACHINES FOR REMOVING SNOW AND ICE FROM ROADWAYS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 145,822, dated Dcember23, 1873; application filed March 22, 1873.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES Gr. \VATER- BURY, of the city, county, andState of New York, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Meansfor Removing Snow and Ice from Streets and Drying Mud, of which thefollowing is a specification:

The invention will first be fully described, and then pointed out in theclaims.

Figure 1 is a longitudinal sectional elevation of apparatus,illustrating one plan by which my invention can be carried out and Fig.2 is partly a plan view and partly a horizontal section.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts.

A represents an iron box, which may be of any suitable size or form,adapted to be mounted on four wheels, B, for drawing it along thestreet, with a furnace or fire-place, (J, at the front end, inclosed onthe sides and top, but open at the bottom, the front side D, and the twosides, E, at right angles thereto, extending down considerably below therear side, which terminates at F, and said sides E extending rearwardthe whole length of the apparatus, to confine the heat and form a longchannel for the escape of the heat, in such manner as to confine it tothe work as much as possible, and, if need be, a hood, G, may be attached to the rear to prolong the channel, and the hood may be hinged tothe rear end of the box, and suspended by a chain, H, and drum I, toraise and lower it, as may be required. The furnace is surrounded by aninner wall, K. Between these two walls is a water-space, J, whichextends to the bottom of sides D and E, and is prolonged at L to therear end of the box, both in the sides E and over the upper wall M ofthe heat-channel, under a floor, N, in the rear part of the box, overwhich there is another floor, O, to protect the operators and thecontrivance above from the heat. The cover M of the channel has severaldepressions, P, to prevent the escape of the heat too rapidly, and throwit down on the snow and ice. Q represents the rate-bars, which willconsist of tubes when the heat is blown down from the fire between them,and have connec tion with the water-space, so that the water willcirculate in them and protect them from the heat. It is a charger,consisting of a large vertical tube or box rising up from the top of thefurnace and com munieatin g with it, through which to introduce thefuel. It is provided with two slide-doors, S and T, so that, by havingthe lower one closed and the upper one opened, it canbe filled withoutallowing the blast to escape, and, by closing the upper one and openingthe lower one, the charge can be delivered into the furnace also withoutallowing the blast to escape. U is a coil of pipe, having smallperforations arranged around the interior walls for injectinghydrocarbon fuel from a tank, V, with which it is connected outside ofthe furnace, said tank being arranged in the rear portion of the box A,so that the oil will flow in, the pipe having a cock, NV, to regulatethe flow. X is a rotary fan arranged in the rear part of the box A, andhaving its discharge-pipe enter the furnace above the grate, to blow theheat down to the surface of the ground. This fan may be driven by asystem of belts, Z, and pulleys connected with the hind axle of themachine, or a special steam-engine may be employed for the purpose. A isa water-tank for the supply of the water-space J, with which it isconnected by the pipe B, which has a regulating-cock, C. D representsthe pipe for conducting the steam from water-space J down to the firebelow the grate, for adding its heat to that of the fire for melting thesnow, &c.

In Fig. 3, the fan-blower discharges into an inclosed space, E, belowthe fire, and passes up through it over a bridge-wall, F, and then downthrough an open space, G, at one side of the fire, so that ordinarygrate-bars H may be used. This arrangement will be best for burning hardfuel only, which in the other plan probably will not burn well withouthydrocarbon fuel in combination with it, and which it will probably befound best to use, either alone or in combination with the hard fuel,for it will be desirable to produce as much flame as possible, and thedifference in cost will be more than compensated for by the advantagesgained by the greater flame produced, and the more perfect combustion,whereby less smoke is produced. The interior heat, which can in this waybe brought to direct contact with the snow and ice, will quickly meltthe surface portions and convert the Water into steam, which will besuperheated, and become a powerful agent, which, in combination with theheat from the furnace, will melt away the snow more quickly than anyother mamier by which heat can be applied, and will remove it cheaperthan it can be done in any other Way.

The machine will be drawn along the street next to the gutters first, toopen them for the escape of the water, and next alongside of the alreadycleaned strip, passing up one side of the street and down the otheruntil the Whole space has been worked over.

I am aware of a patent granted to Mullay for a machine in which hot 'airand steam are applied in combination; but, by using steam in directcontact with fire heat, I secure the advantage of superheated steam.

Having thus described my invention, I

G. G. WATERBURY.

\Vitncsses A. P. THAYER, T. B. Mosnnn.

